The Poisoned Chalice: James Swallow.

Over the past decade the prime universe has grown richly complex as print adventures have taken over where television left off. Now, in a new five-book series titled The Fall, some of Star Trek’s greatest authors are going to rock the Federation to its core with an adventure that takes place over a period of sixty days and involves TNG, DS9, and Titan.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones continue our series of interviews with the authors of The Fall as James Swallow joins us to discuss the fourth book in the series, The Poisoned Chalice. James is returning to the world of Titan for the first time since Synthesis to get Riker and his crew out of their comfort zone. We learn about the real-world politics behind The Poisoned Chalice, how the world view of Federation citizens and leaders has changed in the aftermath of war, and what it was like to write the first ever meeting between two onscreen favorites—Tuvok and Nog. We also find out what James has in store for us on the Star Trek front in 2014.

In our news segment we get a first look at the cover art for Greg Cox’s No Time Like the Past, find out more about David R. George III’s John Harriman-Demora Sulu novel One Constant Star, and also check in on Jeffrey Lang’s Light Fantastic. In comics we take a peek at IDW’s early-2014 slate, which includes Ongoing #31—the first part of I, Enterprise—and a reissue of the first six classic Gold Key comics. And to top it all off, we close out the year with a review of Ongoing #28, the final chapter of The Khitomer Conflict.

To Brave the Storm. John Jackson Miller in News. We discuss if the book covers enough, the pacing, Mayweather returning, T’Pau’s change of heart, Romulans, Trip and T’Pol, what might have been and ratings.

Rules of Accusation: Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann. We have a surprise interview with Paula Block and Terry Erdmann from the Shore Leave convention and then we discuss this latest foray into the Ferengi world.

Captain to Captain. We discuss a brand new series, previously on the Space Ship Enterprise, legacies, slugs, parallels, the transfer key and connections, The Prime Directive, legacy of the Enterprise, ratings and final thoughts.

The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor’s Wing. We discuss the expansive scope, Columbia’s disappearance, character work, media in wartime, war - what is it good for?, losing the Nfs, ratings and final thoughts.

Star Trek: Avenger. We discuss coming back to the book, the Federation’ existential and ecological crisis, a group with questionable policies, Kirk as Sarek’s “Son”, Kirk avenging, the return…again, ratings and final thoughts.

The Last Will Be First: Tristan Riddell. Matthew Rushing and Dan Gunther are joined by Bruce Gibson and Strange New Worlds contestant Tristan Riddell to talk about his DS9 story The Last Will Be First. Then as a special treat and for the first time ever, we present the audiobook version of his story to the world.

Elusive Salvation: Dayton Ward. We discuss the title, continuing in history’s shadow, new aliens, where to go, the timey-whimy, Roberta Lincoln, cheekiness, SPOILERS, the importance of hope, a pop question, what’s next for Dayton and where to find him online.

Kobayashi Maru. We discuss Archer coming into his own, wrong things for the wrong reasons, a shadowy man, a shadowy problem, overly long and not a lot of plot points, the Kobayashi Maru, historical connections and our ratings.

Live By the Code. We discuss the interesting series, the greater good, Trip’s soul and Section 31, Klingon connections, interference, fanatical racism, a full plate, the problem of dependency and our ratings.